Furina simply gazed quietly at the basin before her.
"Huff-huff-"
Though her face showed little expression, her rapid breathing still gave her away.
Voices of doubt kept rising from the audience.
"Lord Neuvillette did say she could refuse, but if Lady Furina doesn't take part, wouldn't that be the same as admitting she isn't the Hydro Archon?"
"Exactly. Lady Furina is just staring at that Primordial Sea Water without saying anything. From her expression, she's clearly really scared, isn't she? Just as we thought..."
[Barbara: Furina actually came down without the slightest hesitation after hearing about this dangerous experiment!]
[Jean: At this point in the trial, the expression on Furina's face has actually said it all.]
[Lynette: It looks like Lady Furina really isn't a god?]
[Arataki Itto: Hey, hey, hey! The result might be obvious, but those people in the audience should stop talking. What if they provoke Furina into doing something rash and she sticks her hand in?]
[Ganyu: Yes, from the way Furina looks, she really wants to try it!]
[Hu Tao: Surely she wouldn't? Didn't they say this seawater came from Poisson? Confess to the charge or get dissolved by this terrifying seawater-any normal person would know which to choose!]
[Nilou: Just what kind of secret is Furina trying to conceal by playing a god, for her to need such enormous resolve!]
[Yelan: I think we'll find out very soon!]
[Lyney: Confess. At least your life won't be at risk. No one in Fontaine has ever been sentenced to death. At most, you'll be locked up in the Fortress of Meropide.]
[Sigewinne: If Lady Furina comes to the Fortress of Meropide, we'll be sure to take good care of her!]
[Xingqiu: I still hope Furina can be a little more rational!]
On the screen.
Furina was still staring at the seawater before her, as though constantly trying to prepare herself mentally.
Her flat chest rose and fell without pause, and her breathing grew increasingly rapid. "Huff-huff-"
Sitting in the audience, Navia was also very surprised to see Furina like this. "This... from the looks of it, is Furina really planning to... that can't be right. Based on our earlier assessment..."
Neuvillette spoke again. "Miss Furina, given the danger of this experiment, you need not..."
Hearing Neuvillette's words, Furina instead seemed to make up her mind. Without any warning, she plunged her gloved hand straight in.
"Gasp-"
Everyone present drew in a sharp breath.
Lumine: "Furina really put her hand in!"
Paimon also hurriedly covered her eyes with her hands.
Navia shouted from the audience, "Hey!"
Fortunately, however, what everyone had imagined did not happen. Furina was still standing on the stage, completely unharmed.
Furina herself looked as though she had survived a disaster, her mouth wide open as she kept gasping for breath. "Hah... hah... ha..."
There was only one voice in her mind. I didn't dissolve. I didn't dissolve.
Whether it was because she was too excited or something else, she felt as though she was losing control of her breathing, and something seemed a little wrong with her skin, too.
But she paid none of it any mind. Though she didn't know why, wasn't the fact that she hadn't dissolved the best proof?
She turned around and raised her gloved hand high, saying excitedly, "Look, look! Everyone, look! I... I'm still standing here perfectly fine! My hand is all right! This seawater has no effect on me!"
"Well? I told you, didn't I? I am the real Hydro Archon, not the ordinary human they claim I am! Well..."
Seeing that nothing serious had happened to Furina, everyone in the livestream chat finally felt their hearts settle.
[Hu Tao: So scary, so scary! I thought...]
[Nilou: Furina was being far too reckless, taking a risk like that! What if she'd really dissolved?]
[Arataki Itto: Scared the life out of me! But Furina is still standing here perfectly fine. Doesn't that prove she's not an ordinary person? Or... has this Primordial Sea Water expired?
[Kuki Shinobu: Hehe... Boss always has such... unique insight!]
[Ganyu: Even after seeing that Furina is all right, my heart is still pounding! It won't stop.]
[Yelan: Is a reversal coming?]
[Yae Miko: I thought the trial was about to end, but looking at this, why do I feel as though the climax has only just begun?]
[Lisa: But why didn't she dissolve? Her earlier expression didn't seem feigned.]
[Kamisato Ayaka: Yes, I even felt as though she was already prepared to protect that secret even if the Primordial Sea Water dissolved her.]
[Diluc: Yes. The way she looked afterward, when she saw she hadn't dissolved, was just like someone who'd survived a disaster.]
[Venti: Whether she's a god or not, that resolve truly deserves to be sung of. As Mondstadt's greatest bard, I'm going to compose a hymn in her honor!]
[Zhongli: The strategist entered the game himself, making a move to best heaven by half a stone!]
Meanwhile.
Everyone was still in shock.
Up on the raised platform, Neuvillette remained as calm as ever. "Miss Sigewinne, sorry for the trouble, but please come up onto the stage."
"Sigewinne...?" Hearing Neuvillette's words, Furina was a little bewildered. Though she didn't know why, an ominous feeling inexplicably rose in her heart.
While Furina stood dazed for a moment, Sigewinne slowly approached her, wearing a gentle, kindly smile as though soothing her. She said softly, "Relax, relax. It'll be over very soon..."
Then she leaned toward Furina's right hand and examined it carefully. "Hmm, let me see..."
A few seconds later.
Sigewinne nodded. "Mm-hmm, I've had a clear look now!"
Neuvillette: "Then, Miss Sigewinne, please tell us your conclusion!"
Sigewinne: "From my examination just now, the condition of Miss Furina's skin and her rapid breathing both point to one result..."
"She has been affected by the Primordial Sea Water, and her reaction is the same as that of an ordinary person exposed to Primordial Sea Water of the same concentration..."